Marines hold a large US flag across the field as Navy F-18 fighter jets fly over before the Holiday Bowl football game between Texas and Arizona State on Thursday, Dec, 27, 2007, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

(Newser)
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A decades-old trend for field-sized Stars and Stripes at sporting events shows no signs of flagging, writes the New York Times. A flag big enough for the Statue of Liberty to wear as a cape will cover Yankee Stadium's turf before the upcoming all-star game—and the giant 150-foot banner is considered small by modern standards.

The gigantic Old Glories wow the crowds across the nation as hundreds of volunteers run out to unfurl them, striving to make certain not an inch touches the ground. “For big, spectacular events, big just happens because it paints a more vibrant picture,” said a Major League Baseball executive. “I don’t think bigger is necessarily better—but it is a celebration."